Home is within By Monika Kathuria

Banyan tree Sector 17 Chandigarh 

Home is a symbol of peace and comfort. We struggle to look for peace and comfort in places, in things and in people.  We invent an image around us that defines us, as to who we are.  Every action we take and every move we make is governed by that self image we want to project to the world. Our expectation of how people should perceive us is very important to us.  It is that decides, if consider ourselves to be happy or sad, successful or not,  famous or infamous.
However, our personality actually is the product of our mental conditioning as done by our environment and society. We get carried away by the assumptions and presumptions and believe them to be true. Layers and veils of societal expectations and pressure hides beneath, the personality we are! We ourselves do not realize who we are.
Many people find it difficult to answer to the question "who am I?" Beyond the name,  designation, profession and role (mother, father, etc.), it becomes difficult to identify oneself with.
What is my "authentic self"?  This is something which most people on the planet do not even think about.
When I came across this term in Robin Sharma's book, The Secret Letters which I am re-reading after about 4 years, I found myself contemplating on it.
As I contemplated on "authentic self", various thoughts crossed my mind.  If being a woman, teacher and mother is my identity then how is it different from the millions of other people on earth?  Then how am I unique or even authentic? To live an authentic life requires a lot of courage.  Courage to accept our fears and our weaknesses, to explore our talents, dreams and desires. To accept failure and dejection.  To be comfortable with who we are.   To try to manifest our goals to reality.  Yet, the most important part is to be honest only for ourselves and not to validate the projected self-image. In living an authentic life we give power to our soul to grow.  We accept our weaknesses, transform them and evolve.
It brings out the fact that life is all about "the journey of  becoming!" It is not about reaching a destination or achieving milestones. It is about shedding the veils and letting go of what we are not. The comfort of home is thus not in places, people or things it is in becoming who we are supposed to be....
The home is within! 

She’s a waif : Nobody’s Child

She’s a waif : Nobody’s Child 

Composed by – Monika Kathuria

Those dark tear-filled eyes,
Those moans and those heart-rending cries,
Of the lonely child, in the dark moonless night,
Roaming alone in the wilderness, terrified !

No one around to share or care,
No one to look after her,  no one dear.
No shelter, no clothing , no food for days,
Barefooted she walks at 5 years of age.

Sight of any woman reminds of her caring Mother.
It was not long ago, When she was the center of love,
Her mother’s life – this fatherless child.
Those lovely days did go where? Alone she cries.

On a bright and sunny morning
With her mother she went shopping.
Holding her hand she was hopping
Happily and merrily she was living.

Someone came from nowhere,
Others followed him with spears!
With pistils, knives and swords bare !
Their aim was not clear.

Shouting, yelling ran people, scared!
Hither and thither and here and there.
The bullets fired, the shots heard.
Those bodies fell with a thud.

Pools of blood collected in no time.
Before her eyes was a gruel some sight.
With her mother dead before she realized.
She was left as – Waif – Nobody’s Child !

The riot was over, the mob dispersed,
The night was over, the darkness cleared.
Her life faces a dark prolonged night…
Hungry unhappy, sad and terrified childhood cries…..
She’s a Waif – Nobody’s Child !

Love Thy Heart 💗

Love Thy Heart!!!

When we talk of ♥  we associated with emotions like love. Is it really so ? There are lots of sayings....warm hearts, cold hearts, clean hearts, mean hearts, light hearts, sweet hearts... 💓

"Two hearts beat as one", they say to those who are in love. While at loss of affection the "hearts get broken" , trouble makes one's "heart bleed".💔
Happiness makes "heart gladden" 💖. His "heart was in his mouth", after having "gone out!" Sometimes the "heart is in highlands". Sometimes "heart is all over the place".💞
 How does heart acquire a personality? 
💘 When people meet,  something happens, something goes boeing! Surely, it is the living, loving heart that react and gets excited at the sight of the beloved person. 💓

Damn it!! But heart is just a pump!

An automatic blood pumping machine that can be replaced! How come heart symbolize love? It is believed that we subconsciously remember our mother's heart beat. So,  heart was at first metaphor for motherly love and later became so for romantic love.💗

So what sends the signal of love through our bodies? Today in the age of science we know that it is Adrenal Gland! 

The very idea is revolting!!! 
Imagine adrenal gland-a little piece adhering to the kidneys.

It is hard to picture it on a Valentine!

The previous definition of love 💝 as "heart to heart connection" can now be replaced with-

"A renal-adrenal-cardiomuscular epithelial relationship between two pulmonary arteries....."

Imagine a heart♥ beating, pulsing, flapping valves, opening and closing. How much does one owe to this little struggling thing. It's alive, it's working hard, nearly 100,000 times a day, it beats. It's no doubt hardworking hero, an unappreciated friend, worthy enough to represent a sentiment like love♥ .

(Similar to what Shakespeare said)

My heart♥ goes to my ♥  heart and I must pause....till it comes back to me!